(1805–75). Hans Christian Andersen's stories, such as "The Ugly Duckling" and "The Emperor's New Clothes" are some of the most famous ever written. These stories have been translated into many languages and are favorites today, just as they were when first published in Denmark in the mid-19th century.

Early life

Hans Christian Andersen was born on April 2, 1805, in a Danish fishing village called Odense. Andersen's family was very poor. As a boy, he attended school only occasionally. It is said that Andersen learned by listening to a neighborhood boy recite his school lessons. He then used his excellent memory to memorize what the boy said.

At home, Andersen's grandmother often told him folk tales and legends, and he acted out plays with puppets. He visited the theater and found that he loved performing. When Andersen was 11 years old, his father died. Shortly after that, Andersen's mother arranged for him to become a weaver's apprentice. He later worked for a tobacconist and a tailor. However, Andersen knew he was not interested in making cloth, cigars, or clothing.

Move to Copenhagen

At age 14, Andersen traveled to Copenhagen, the capital city of Denmark. He hoped to make a career for himself in theater or dance. Although he struggled greatly, Andersen did not give up. When he was 17, he had the good fortune to meet Jonas Collin, one of the directors of the Royal Theater. Collin read a play that Andersen wrote and believed it held promise. With Collin's help, Andersen received an education. In 1828, when he was 23, Andersen was accepted to the University of Copenhagen. He completed his education there the next year.

Writing career

Andersen's first writings were published in 1829. In 1833, he was awarded a grant of money from the king that allowed him to visit Germany, France, Switzerland, and Italy. He traveled for more than a year. Andersen realized that he was good at explaining the nature of children. Upon returning to Denmark, he wrote his first stories for young people, called Tales, Told for Children. This collection of four stories was printed in 1835 and included the well-known story “The Princess and the Pea.”

From 1840 to 1857, Andersen traveled throughout Europe, Asia, and Africa. During this time, he kept a diary and wrote many letters, most of which were published.

Andersen wrote his stories as if they were being told out loud, often using expressions that people heard every day. In this way, he brought his fairy tales to life. He also drew on his own experiences to create characters who were poor or even outcasts. Because Andersen conveyed a child's perspective well, the stories were very popular with readers. The public's interest in his work was so great that Andersen eventually wrote 168 fairy tales.

After a long writing career, Andersen died on August 4, 1875. Each year on Andersen's birthday people gather in Odense to remember the writer who contributed so many stories to the world.